COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Designed to help transportation staff become better communicators, this course is a blend of two live, web-conference training (WCT) sessions coupled with a series of self-paced web-based training (WBT) modules. This training addresses the public involvement component of transportation planning and project delivery and how to incorporate an effective communications plan into this process. The course explores how and why members of the public can develop entrenched and sometimes, inflexible emotionally-charged positions; traces the root causes of their hositilites and anger; and teaches strategies to help you and your organization gain credibility and the public's trust. Participants learn how to prepare for all types of public meetings, how to give effective presentations, how to handle hostile groups or individuals, ways to overcome frustrations and loss of control during public meetings, as well as preparing proper, post-meeting documentation.

Participants need access to both a telephone and an internet connection to participate in the live WCT sessions. The course length is six hours total, comprised of four hours of instructor-led WCT and two hours of self-paced WBT.

**COURSE SEQUENCE**

PART1: Module 1 is a live, 2 hour session with the instructor and can begin on either a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, from 11:00 am-1:00 pm/1:00 pm-3:00 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST). Each registered participant accesses this web conference training component from their own computer and phone line.

PART 2: Participants are to complete a series of self-paced training modules (Modules 2, 3, 4 and 5) during the seven calendar days after Module 1 and before the final Module 6.

PART 3: Module 6 is also a live, 2 hour session with the instructor and will begin one week after Module 1. For example, if the course session begins on a Tuesday, it will conclude the following Tuesday. Participants will have up to one week after the last live session to complete course evaluations and take their course exam online.

OUTCOMES:

Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to:

Define values, interests and needs (VIN)

Outline how VIN drive the public decision-making process

Identify at least three common problems that develop from a failure to understand and address VIN

Communicate through your public's VIN

Incorporate your public VIN into a communications plan

Explain how to develop a communications plan that creates an informed public

Develop a plan for a public meeting

List at least four tips on how to make an effective presentation

Describe at least five facilitation techniques necessary for accomplishing most meeting goals

Describe a five-step process for dealing with hostile individuals and groups

TARGET AUDIENCE:

Federal, State and local transportation agency staff, metropolitan planning organization personnel, consultants and others who plan, implement and participate in public involvement for transportation long-range planning and project delivery.

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SESSION INFORMATION:

The National Highway Institute (NHI) has been accredited as an Authorized Provider
by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET).
In obtaining this accreditation, NHI has demonstrated that it complies with the
ANSI/IACET Standard which is recognized internationally as a standard of good practice.
As a result of their Authorized Provider status, NHI is authorized to offer IACET CEUs
for its programs that qualify under the ANSI/IACET Standard.